High attrition rate of Teachers poses threat to Ghana’s education sector -NTC warns
The Registrar of the National Teaching Council (NTC), Dr. Christian Addai-Poku, has expressed concern over the high attrition rate of teachers in Ghana, highlighting its potential threat to the nation’s education sector.
Dr. Addai-Poku cited a recent example where over 16,000 Ghanaian teachers applied for positions in the United Kingdom’s Department of Education, with 10,000 of them, holding Ghana Teacher Licences, being certified to work in the UK without further assessment.
He called on the government and stakeholders to take corrective measures to address this issue and prevent the looming crisis.
Dr. Addai-Poku made these remarks during a two-day symposium held in Takoradi, which preceded the Ghana Teacher Prize ceremony.
The symposium brought together education practitioners, academics, and policymakers to discuss critical education issues.
The Symposium
The symposium, held in Takoradi, served as a prelude to this year’s Ghana Teacher Prize event, focusing on the theme, “The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage.”
It provided a platform for education practitioners, policymakers, and schools to engage in discussions on crucial policy matters, showcase innovative educational initiatives, and explore the challenges and solutions associated with the shortage of qualified teachers.
High Attrition Rate Concerns
The Registrar of the NTC, Dr. Addai-Poku emphasized the need for effective measures to curb the high attrition rate of teachers in the country, which leads to an annual shortage.
He acknowledged the efforts of stakeholders in the education sector and expressed the NTC’s commitment to collaborate with local and international partners to enhance the training and professionalism of Ghanaian teachers.
Role of Teachers in Development
Professor Andy Ofori-Birikorang, a former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, highlighted the invaluable role of teachers in shaping society’s future.
He emphasized that teachers are responsible for nurturing the younger generation, fostering critical thinking, and instilling values and attitudes that contribute to societal progress and prosperity.
Professor Ofori-Birikorang stressed the importance of acknowledging the significant impact of teachers on the nation’s development agenda.
Call for Collaboration
Deputy Minister of Education Gifty Twum Ampofo supported the theme of this year’s Ghana Teacher Prize, emphasizing the critical role of teachers in a rapidly advancing world.
She called for collaborative efforts between governments, educational institutions, civil society, and the private sector to address the teacher shortage and provide quality education.
“Let’s join the National Teaching Council and the Ministry of Education in this exploration to deal with the teacher shortage, acknowledging the fact that reversing the teacher shortage is a long-term endeavour that requires collaboration between governments, educational institutions, civil society and private sector,” Ms Twum Ampofo said.
